Eastbourne MP Defends Voting Against Securing EU Citizens' Rights

Eastbourne MP, Caroline Ansell, has voted against guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens in the UK, before the triggering of Article 50.

MPs cast their vote last night (8 February), with the majority opposing the amendment, which had been put forward to the Commons by Labour MP, Harriet Harman. Had the vote gone in favour, it would have seen all EU citizens, who were legally living in Britain on 23 June 2016, have their right to stay here protected.

Mrs Ansell’s vote came less than a week after she spoke to Eastbourne Buzz saying, “One of my priorities obviously, is making sure that those EU nationals who have made their home here, made their life here, have their family here, that they know that their place is secure. So, I know that is going to be one of the very first issues that the Prime Minister is going to be looking to secure because she’d looking secure that same confidence for British citizens living across the EU.” (You can see the original interview here).

On asking the Conservative MP if her position had changed on the issue, she told Eastbourne Buzz, “The accurate position is this; My vote was to trigger Article 50. I will be working hard with the government to ensure EU citizens' rights in the UK are safeguarded. I have said this a priority - as has the Prime Minister - but, equally, it has to be part of negotiations with the EU post the Article 50 triggering and not part of amendments designed to thwart the referendum."